After a brutal attack left her paralyzed, archer competes in the 2024 Paris Paralympics
Suddenly, I realized my ex-partner broke in to attack us. He threw me to the floor and shot Ricky in the face with a pellet gun. My memory remains scattered, shielding me from the moments I endured during that night.
- 2 weeks ago
November 6, 2024
Tracy Otto, a U.S. para-archer, competes at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. | Photo courtesy of Tracy Otto.
PARIS, France — In front of the Eiffel Tower, like a scene from a movie, I smiled through tears. My boyfriend knelt to the ground and asked me to marry him. I found myself in Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games competing in archery.
Just a few years back, competing on the Paralympic stage seemed an unimaginable reality. I was barely clinging to life after my ex-partner brutally attacked me. Yet, in the aftermath, I took control and transformed my pain into strength. I built my present life, one that while challenging, is filled with beauty and hope.
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Surviving an attack changed my life: rebuilding my strength from the ground up
On October 24, 2019, I fell asleep beside my boyfriend Ricky, when my life turned upside down in an instant. Through my drowsiness, I heard noises I could not place. Suddenly, I realized my ex-partner broke in to attack us. He threw me to the floor and shot Ricky in the face with a pellet gun. My memory remains scattered, shielding me from the moments I endured during that night.
I recall only fragments and the brutal aftermath of the attack. I was beaten, abused, and left for dead as my attacker went to turn himself in. At the hospital, I drifted in and out of consciousness. My left eye was unresponsive, and my body felt unfamiliar, like a puzzle I could not piece together. I overflowed with conflicting emotions—gratitude for surviving yet grief for the life I lost.
During moments of clarity, I questioned why this violence happened, though I kept those thoughts to myself. Gradually, I shifted my focus from questioning to how I could start over. At 23, I had to relearn basic movements, almost like a baby but even more challenging. My muscles no longer responded as they once did.
Simple tasks felt impossible. Some movements just would not work, no matter how many times I tried. It is maddening when that happens, but I pushed myself to find humor in these challenges. Learning again is not easy, but I reminded myself to have moments of lightness. I focus on each small victory as I rebuilt, step by step.
Love at first shot: archery captivated me
I entered my first archery class with an open mind, unsure what to expect. My hands did not fully cooperate, and Ricky doubted I could handle a bow. “We will see,” I told him, confident I could find a way. I successfully took my first shot, and a surge of joy washed over me. It felt incredible to manage it on my own. It was not and still is not easy, but that first shot felt nourishing for the soul, and I knew I wanted more.
Archery feels unlike anything I ever tried. I used to drift from one thing to the next, never finding something that truly captivated me. This feels different, almost as if my path in archery had always been there, waiting for me. I know this passion will excite me for the long haul, something I never thought I could find. At that point, I did not realize archery was a Paralympic sport. After my first shot, someone nearby who would later become my mentor, watched me.
I asked about competitive circuits and how far one could go. “The highest competition is the Paralympics,” he replied. It was March 2021, and from that moment on, I set my sights on the 2024 Paris Games. Setting such a goal seemed to make little sense. I was still injured and could not finish the class, but the idea took root. I do not credit the attack for my current life, but I know this path would not be possible without my injuries. Sometimes life hands you lemons. I made the best lemonade I could. Through everything, I remain the builder of my own life.
Savoring every moment at the Paris paralympics
In May, I took a home pregnancy test, and it came back positive. I dreamed of becoming a mother, but since the attack, it seemed impossible. When I saw the two test lines, my whole body shook with emotion. It felt miraculous, almost unreal. This life-changing news came weeks after my confirmed Paralympic qualification, leaving me completely ecstatic. Competing in the Paralympics became the most incredible experience of my life.
Pregnancy nausea struck me several times a day, but I savored every moment. Representing my country filled me with pride, and I worked hard to stay grounded amidst the whirlwind of emotions. Joy and pride took over as I reflected on the past and all I overcame to reach this place. I often thought about my future with my daughter, due in January 2025. Before leaving the U.S. for Paris, Ricky and I selected an engagement ring, so I knew he wanted to marry me.
On our way to the airport, he “forgot” the passports and hinted he also forgot the ring. I ruled out any proposal in Paris. One afternoon in the Olympic Village, feeling unwell, Ricky insisted we go to the Eiffel Tower. We argued as he anxiously tried to get us there, but I had no idea why. When we finally arrived, we took photos as dusk settled over Paris.
As the tower lights flickered on, Ricky dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. Overwhelmed, I said yes, and we embraced, lost in a romantic moment. My life is complicated. Everything requires immense effort. Yet, it could not be more beautiful. I am the architect of my life, building the dreams I hold dear with unshakable certainty.
